Calzaghe's title fight suffers a knockout blow

Joe Calzaghe's World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight title defence against Brian Magee in Belfast tomorrow has been cancelled.

Calzaghe has fallen foul of a WBO rule which does not allow a fighter to make a voluntary defence less than 60 days prior to a mandatory fight.

Earlier this month the Welshman was ordered to defend his title against his main contender, Mario Veit, in Germany on 7 May.

Eamonn Magee will now top the King's Hall bill in his WBU welterweight title fight against Allan Vester.

Promoter Frank Warren was understood to have reached an agreement with Veit's promoters, Universum, and the WBO for the Calzaghe fight to take place.

But ZDF, the German channel due to broadcast the fight, insisted on blocking it, fearing an upset could put their investment in doubt.

It another setback for Calzaghe, who had hoped to make 2005 the defining year of his career.

The Welshman, who is undergoing a messy divorce, pulled out of a title defence last month citing the need for more time to prepare.

He was floored in the fourth round of his last contest against Egyptian Kabary Salem in Glasgow in October.

Veit has won 15 fights since Calzaghe knocked out him out in the first round when they met in Cardiff in April 2001.

Magee's trainer, Pat Magee, said his fighter was "devastated" by the news.

He said: "As far as I know, the Germans have objected to Joe putting his title on the line. It is a nightmare for everybody concerned and I have to protect Brian's position because this is no fault of ours."